A 300 Piece 19th C. Scrimshaw & Ivory Collection Has Been Commissioned To Sell In Manor Auctions October 2010 Auction
A Florida estate has commissioned a private 300 piece Scrimshaw and Ivory collection to Manor Auctions October 2010 Lakeland Florida auction. The collection consists of fantastic 19th C. Scrimshaw and Ivory carvings of bone, teeth and tusk, including many elaborate rare English Whaling pieces. The carving spans all types of tools, boxes, presentation pieces, memorabilia, whaling ship works from around the globe and much more. Many magnificent and rare Scrimshaw works exist within the collection. This life-long collection was purchased over the last 40 years and has not seen the light of day in atleast 20 years. All things considered this is a rather intriguing and well-rounded scrimshaw and ivory collection. Scrimshaw collectors should take special note of this auction, as it is quite rare for a collection of this quality and magnitude to be offered in a single auction.
The collection of Scrimshaw and Ivory will be sold in Manor Auctions October 2010 Lakeland Florida Fine Art, Jewelry
& Collectible Catalog Auction. All pieces are being offered without reserve and will sell to the highest bidder.
Scrimshaw: The artful and often elaborate handiwork created by whalers made from the byproducts of harvesting marine mammals. It is most commonly made out of the bones and teeth of sperm whales, the baleen of other whales, and the tusks of walruses. Often created to pass the time / leisure, as presentation pieces or to commemorate an occurrence.
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Contact Manor Auctions if you have scrimshaw or ivory to appraise or sell. Request your No Cost auction consultation today.
Scrimshaw is derived from the practice of sailors on whaling ships creating common tools, where the byproducts of whales were readily available. The term originally referred to the making of these tools, only later referring to works of art created by whalers in their spare time. Whale bone was ideally suited for the task, as it is easy to work and was plentiful.
The development of scrimshaw took off after the market for whale teeth, which was sought by Chinese traders for use in the Pacific Islands (for example the Fijian market for tabua), was flooded with teeth after a narrative by an American sailor, Captain David Porter, revealed both the market and the source of the teeth. Around this time is the earliest authenticated pictorial piece of scrimshaw (1817). The tooth was inscribed with the following This is the tooth of a sperm whale that was caught near the Galapagos islands by the crew of the ship Adam [of London], and made 100 barrels of oil in the year 1817.[3]
Other sea animal ivories were also used as alternatives for rarer whale teeth. Walrus tusks, for example, may have been acquired in trade from indigenous walrus hunters.
Scrimshaw essentially was a leisure activity for whalers. Because the work of whaling was very dangerous at the best of times, whalers were unable to work at night. This gave them a great deal more free time than other sailors. A lot of scrimshaw was never signed and a great many of the pieces are anonymous. Early scrimshaw was done with crude sailing needles, and the movement of the ship, as well as the skill of the artist, produced drawings of varying levels of detail and artistry. Originally, candle black, soot or tobacco juice would have been used to bring the etched design into view. Today's artists use finer tools in various sizes, mostly borrowed from the dental industry. Some scrimshanders ink their work with more than one color, and restrained polychromed examples of this art are now popular.
Originating in an era when sperm whales were initially plentiful only to be hunted to near collapse, scrimshaw no longer is an artform utilizing an easily renewable animal resource, but one that is susceptible to contraband. Now, the Endangered Species Act and international conventions restrict the harvest and sale of ivory to try to reverse the scarcity of ivory-bearing animals.
Scrimshanders and collectors acquire legal whale teeth and marine tusks through estate sales, auctions and antique dealers. To avoid illegal ivory, collectors and artists check provenance and deal only with other established and reputable dealers.
This rare scrimshaw & ivory collection will be sold on October 9th in Manor's Lakeland Florida Fine Art, Jewelry & Collectible Auction. Bidders can participate via floor, phone, Internet & absentee. Contact Manor Auctions with any questions pertaining to the auction: 850-523-3787.
